Dog-Bloggin’ Musher

I would like to say winter update, but I don’t know if we can call this winter. The unseasonably warm weather has us (myself and the dogs) in a state. The weather really doesn’t show much potential for snow up to Feb.10th and 11th. There is some moisture coming in before that but if we get the warmth that they are calling for, it will probably be in the form of rain. If you have a reservation between now and then you may be getting a call from me notifying you of cancellation. We may get a dumping on the 10th and 11th if the predicted temps hold.

With the crazy weather we are having of late, Dogsled Express is preparing to go with the flow and we have ordered the building of our new dryland sled dog cart. Hopefully it will be ready by this April and we are in process with the USFS to get our Dryland Special Use Permits. We will then be able to operate all spring and fall and maybe even into the summer, giving small and large groups short 2 mile rides, for $15 per person. The cart will be perfect for Birthday parties, Church Groups, Family Reunions, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Mushing Classes, and alike. Keep an eye on our website for more cart, sled dog rides info as we get near operation. Here is a peek at the unit we will be getting. Ours will have a bench seat in the back where the seat is shown and an extended front end for a seat like the one show, in front of the bench seat. Could take two adults and two small children at one time. Rides will be by reservations and spontaneous drive ups. Dates of operation and locations will be posted on this website. Looking forward to our new addition and hope it helps us stay in business for years to come for both winter and summer tours.

This certainly is a strange weather pattern for the Mount Shasta area. We are hoping that the weather near the end of this month and the first week of Feb. will be a little cooler than predicted and we can get the snow we need to get back into operation. It seems that we are having one of those late arrival for winter conditions. By mid Feb there is actually real winter conditions coming in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It has been years but we have had winters like this in the past where the winter weather comes in a month or more later in the season. From mid Feb., all the way at least through the end of Feb, Accuweather is showing winter weather conditions. So don’t give up on this winter season just yet. About six years ago we had 10ft’ of snow in March and a week later another 10 feet. We ran tours all the way through April! So lets keep our fingers crossed and hope they have it right. This could be some of the best spring conditions we have had in a long time. Please keep an eye on our blogs and we will keep you updated on predicted snow storms and when we feel we may be back open to serve you with an adventure of a lifetime.

Do to ice and an extremely fast trail conditions Dogsled Express has shut down tours until our next measurable snows, which are predicted for mid-Jan. We here at Dogsled Express will never put your safety below the almighty dollar. Sure we like the business but the idea of either you, myself or our dogs getting hurt while on an extreme trail for the $ is not what this company is about. We are taking reservation for the rest of the season because there is strong evidence that there is colder weather with moisture coming in with it, which in turn means we should have excellent, fun, and safe trails in our near future. Hope to hear from you for an experience of a lifetime with Dogsled Express Tours.

The shortened trail (down from 8.3 miles to 5.2 miles) is in wonderful condition. prices have been reduced accordingly. These cold days have been great for our trail and I believe that they will hold up until Jan. 6th, when we are suppose to receive our next real snow accumulation. We do have openings between now and then. Check out our calendar to see what times have already been booked and what dates and times are still available. We look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks to USFS we were able to grade of the remaining snow around the bar patches so we can get out to the good trail conditions. The trail is normally 8.3 miles and now is down to 5.1 miles so I have reduced the cost of the tours from $190 for two adults to $150. The great part is that the best and most fun part of the trail is the part that we still have. The trail is fast now due that it is freezing at night now and NOAA is predicting 3 to 5 more inches of snow. The extended parts that you need to drive out on is flat a your kitchen floor so vehicles will have no problem even if we get a couple of inches. I will pack it down with my pickup if needed. After we get a couple of inches more, the trail is going to be fantastic. Once we get a big dumping of snow then we will move the trailhead back to our original location. Hope to hear from you. .Note : please don’t ask for reservations through the comments……fill out the reservation request form to start the reservation process. Thank You.

Thank you everyone for all the interest in dogsled tours. Yes we are currently booked up thru the 29th of Dec. Because of the heavy rains we received a few days ago and the unseasonable warm temps the trail conditions are diminishing. I am hoping that the trail will hold up until this Weds, night when we are suppose to have a hard freeze and a little snow. They are predicting that the snow will be less than an inch, but they have been wrong before. I am looking into a couple of options to see if the first mile (where the poor snow conditions are) I can possibly come up with another plan where we may have the clients drive out to a new start point or ride on a Ranger 4×4 to bypass the first mile and then start. The prices would be reduced accordingly for the shorter ride. If we can’t do that and we don’t get some more snow on Weds. and Sunday then we will have to cancel some tours or reschedule into mid January when we are suppose to get some good snow accumulations. We are very disappointed in the weather but as we all know it is something that we have no control over. Please stay posted and I will update to let everyone know what is happening concerning our trail. Thank you for your understanding and have a wonderful Holiday season. Pat

Dogsled Express will be open for business on this Friday Dec. 19th. We have at least 12 inches of new snow with a good couple inches of packed base underneath. We will be grooming the trails Thursday and letting them set up that night. Conditions should be excellent. We will be having perfect dustings of snow after that which will mean a nice smooth trail with great photo opportunities of fresh snow in the trees and happy, happy, happy dogs and driver(me). We have two openings this Friday and the weekend is open due to folks waiting(including myself) to see what the snow conditions are. I am sure the ski park will be open this weekend also. Hope to hear from you soon.

Dogsled Express Trailhead has snow!!!! It is only a few inches but there is more on the way. Tomorrow, Saturday the 13th I will be hauling our trailer full of sleds and snowmobile and groomer so that when the snow come in again next Monday we will be ready to start grooming the trail. We are hoping to open for tours come next Weds. the 17th, with any luck. After last season we of no snow, we are so excited to get on snow we can’t stand it. By we……..I mean the dogs and I. I can’t imagine how fired up they are going to be once they arrive at the trailhead and realize they get to run on snow and not have to be pulling the ATV till next spring. Reservations will really be coming in fast now that folks see that snow is really here so please get your reservations in early so that we can schedule the times and dates that will best serve you and yours. The fastest way to get the reservation process going is to go the reservation page and submit your info on the reservation request form. Please look at our calendar page to see what dates and times are available. There is a complete explanation of how the calendar dates and times are entered so that you may see what dates and times are still available. Hope to hear from you soon. Pat…..owner/operator and guide.

Accuweather is predicting that for the city of Mount Shasta….the temperatures will be dropping around the 15th of December and the snow level will be into the city of Mount Shasta. That means that we will be getting significant snow at our trailhead for Dogsled Express Tours. YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO We will keep you posted as the dates near and we can get a better idea of when we may be open for business.

I thank God that the forecast for this next month is better than last year’s. There are many storms in the next month and hoping that we will get the good dumping of snow to get us going by the Xmas Holidays. Last year at this time there was nothing but sunshine in the forecast. I know you are all waiting to see the big snow coming because we are getting tons of hits on our website. Much more than any year in the past. Once that snow is predicted….please get your reservations in early or you may miss out on the date and time that you would best serve your needs. After last winter’s snow disaster, the dogs and I are chomping at the bit to get on snow again. Having fun training in the young dogs with the elderly to ensure your tour will fulfill every dream you have had of being on a tour powered by husky power. Hope to hear from you soon. Owner/operators. Pat and Lisa Campbell

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“Song of the Runners” book by Pat Campbell

“Song of the Runners” is based on an actual 220 mile sled dog race. A unique insight of the thoughts and emotions that both man and dogs share while out on the trail. The story is written in the voices of Pat, (dog driver) and Casper, (lead dog). What starts out as a simple story about a dog sled race, soon becomes something much more. To order the book go to Amazon,com books. For your Kindle just go to Kindle.com and for your smart phone, i-pad and computer go to Createspace apps. For your personalized, signed copy, directly send us a check or money order to Pat Campbell. PO BOX 452 Etna, CA. 96014
The book is now available throughout Siskiyou County at the "Book Village" in Mount Shasta, "Scott Valley Feed" in both Yreka and Scott Valley, the "Etna Hardware Store" and the "Callahan Emporium"